UST935006I4

ABSTRACT

DECANTATION IS USED TO SEPARATE FROM A POLYTRETRAMETHYLENE ETHER GLYCOL-WATER EMULSION A LARGE PORTION OF SALTS WHICH HAVE BEEN FORMED BY PRECIPITATING FLUOSULFONIC ACID POLYMERIZATION CATALYSTS WITH CALCIUM HYDROXIDE. THE EMULSION IS ALLOWED, TO SETTLE IN A VESSEL AND SEPARATE INTO LAYERS WITH THE GLYCOL CONCENTRATED IN A TOP LAYER ABOVE AN INTERMEDIATE LAYER OF RELATIVELY CLEAR WATER AND WITH THE SALTS CONCENTRATED IN A BOTTOM LAYER. THE BOTTOM LAYER IS REMOVED CONTINOUSLY WITH PART OF IT BEING RECIRCULATED BACK INTO THE BOTTOM LAYER AT A RATE WHICH AVOIDS CLOG-   GING. THE GLYCOL IS REMOVED ABOVE, AND FRESH FEED IS ADDED AT A RATE WHICH MAINTAINS THE LEVELS IN THE VESSEL.



